Advertising sign



Jan. 10, 1939.

I L. SKERL AD VERTISING SIGN Filed Jan. 3, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Laws /nexa. 5 44/ A TTORNE Y6 L. SKERL I 2,143,583

ADVERTISING SIGN Jan. 10, 1939.

Filed Jan. 3, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. L ou/s SKE/FL.

Patented Jan. 10, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 3 Claims.

The present invention relates to improvements in advertising signs and has particular reference to an advertising sign adapted to be conveniently used on motor vehicles, particularly on the back thereof.

For many years it has been customary to secure the spare tire to the back of a motor vehicle and to' utilize the cover of the spare tire for advertising purposes. The latest motor vehicles do not use the back of the vehicle for the spare tire any more and my advertising sign is particularly intended to take the place of the former spare tire as an advertising medium.

More particularly it is proposed to provide an attractive advertising sign which may be substantially of the same size as the former spare tire and which is arranged in such a manner that its base is more or less permanently secured to the back of the car while a display plate is removably secured to the base so that it may be easily and quickly exchanged for another display plate and inserted or removed at will.

It is further proposed to provide a fastening means for the display plate which enhances the 25 aesthetic appearance of the sign as a whole and which cooperates with a portion on the base in forming an attractive border for the sign.

It is further proposed to provide suitable means for positioning the display plate relative to the base and also means for facilitating the insertion and the removal of the fastening means.

Further objects and advantages of my invention will appear as the specification proceeds.

The preferred form of my invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 shows a rear view of the complete sign,

Fig. 2 a vertical section taken along line 2-2 of Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 an enlarged detail view of the lower portion of the sign,

Fig. 4 a vertical section taken along line 4- of Fig. 3,

Fig. 5 a rear view of the base of my sign, taken by itself, and

Fig. 6 a similar view of the display plate forming part of my sign.

While I have shown only the preferred form of my invention I wish to have it understood that various changes or modifications may be made 50 within the scope of the claims hereto attached without departing from the spirit of the invention. More particularly it should be understood that while I have described the invention as an advertising sign for motor vehicles it may, of

65 course, be used in many different connections.

Referring to the drawings in detail my sign comprises in its principal features a base I, a display plate 2 and fastening means 3.

The base I is preferably made in the form of a substantially flat disc 4, circular in form, and 5 having the peripheral edge curled over to present an annular channel 5, the latter being preferably rounded in cross-section as shown in Fig.

4. The disc is intended to be more or less permanently secured to any suitable bracket I (see Fig. 2) projecting from the back of a motor vehicle by means of bolts or rivets 6 extending through perforations 6 in the disc.

While the base is here shown as being circular in form it is apparent that it might be made oval or elliptical without departing from the spirit of the invention. A pin 1 projects from the face of the disc near its bottom edge, the pin being preferably disposed on the vertical centerline of the disc.

The channel 5 may be defined as having an inner channel wall 8 merging into the disc and an outer channel wall 9 forming a channel opening [0. The outer channel wall is formed with a notch H near the pin 1.

The display plate 2 is of substantially the same form as the channel opening Ill so that it may be inserted through the latter to lie against the disc of the base. It is intended to have suitable advertising matter displayed thereon as has been indicated in the drawings which'show, for instance, a blue background l2 and shaped fields l 3 to contain suitable illustrations and/or printed matter. The plate is also formed with a radial slot l4 extending from the margin inwardly and disposed on the vertical centerline, to correspond to the position of the pin 1 rising from the base.

The display plate is inserted into the base by introducing the same through the opening l0 and is positioned by causing the slot M to regis- 40 ter with the pin 1. It is held in this position by a split ring indicated at 3. Since the entire sign is of considerable size, corresponding substantially to the size of a tire, the ring is also. made of considerable size and is preferably made of tubular construction, the cross-section of the ring being such that its outer diameter substantially corresponds to the inner face of the channel. When the ring is in place it rests in the channel and projects inwardly thereof so that the outer channel wall substantially merges into the ring and the channel wall and the ring cooperate in forming an attractive frame or border for the sign.

The split ring is of the expansive type and is substantially co-extensive in length with the channel, except for the width of the pin 1 which is accommodated in the split of the ring. It is inserted by placing one end against the pin 1 and then springing the remainder of the ring into the channel which will bring the other end of the ring on the other side of the pin.

For removing the ring a suitable tool, as, for instance, a screw driver ll, may be inserted through the notch H underneath one end of the ring and the said end may then be pried out of the channel by using the tool as a lever.

A small clip l may be fastened to the rear face of the base as at It to reinforce the region about the pin I and to project beyond the base as at I1, and the projection may serve as an additional fastening means for the base by means of a bolt hole 3.

The device is used as follows: First the base is secured to a suitable bracket projecting from the back of the motor vehicle by means of bolts extending through the holes 6, which are afterwards covered by the display plate. The latter is now inserted through the channel opening to lie against the disc of the base, the slot l4 being made to register with the pin 1 whereby the plate is positioned properly. Next the split ring is inserted by placing one end against the pin 1 and then springing the ring into the channel, the ring being adapted to firmly clamp the plate upon the disc.

To disassemble the device the point of a screw driver or similar-tool is forced through the notch I I underneath one end of a ring and this end is then pried out of the channel until it may be easily gripped for removal of the entire ring. The plate may thus be easily and quickly exchanged for another one.

In order to allow water to drain from the channel 5, which may accumulate therein due to rain and the like, I provide an opening 5 in the bottom of the channel (see Figs. 3 and 4) I claim:

1. An advertising sign of the character described comprising an annular channel having an inner and an outer wall, the inner wall extending from the center of the channel further than the outer wall to furnish a bearing surface, a display plate insertable through the outer wall so as to rest against the bearing surface and having a slot in the margin thereof, a pin projecting from the inner wall through the slot for positioning the plate and a split ring Within the channel and bearing on the plate and the outer wall for holding the plate in position, one of .the ends of the split ring being adapted to bear against the pin for facilitating insertion of the ring and the outer wall having a notch adjacent the pin to permit of the insertion of a prying tool underneath one end of the ring for facilitating removal of the latter.

2. An advertising sign of the character described comprising an annular channel having an inner and an outer wall, the inner wall extending from the center of the channel further than the outer wall to furnish a bearing surface, a display plate insertable through the outer wall so as to rest against the bearing surface and hav ing a slot in the margin thereof, a pin projecting from the inner wall through the slot for positioning the plate and a split ring within the channel and bearing on the plate and the outer wall for holding the plate in position, one of the ends of the split ring being adapted to bear against the pin for facilitating the insertion of the ring.

3. An advertising sign of the character described comprising a disc having a curled margin forming a peripheral channel about the disc, the channel having a concave inner face and a convex outer face, a display plate arranged within the channel so as to overlie the disc and a retaining ring insertable into the channel for removably clamping the plate upon the disc, the ring being of sufiicient diameter in cross-section to project beyond the channel and the edge of the channel being made to bear on and merge into the outer face of the ring so as to cause the channel and the ring to form a frame substantially cylindrical in cross-section about the sign.

LOUIS SKERL. 

